Who knows of a good DWS destination that doesn't involve a flight to Europe/Asia? Summersville is illegal, which is maddening because I life in WV. I've heard of stuff around Austin, Texas, but it looks more like a novelty than a destination. Pictured Rocks, Michigan looks like it MIGHT be amazing, but although I know there are ice routes and sport/trad nearby, nobody has ever mentioned DWS as far as I know(bad landings? Illegal?). There simply must be more areas in this country that are real DESTINATIONS for DWS. Any ideas?

Who knows of a good DWS destination that doesn't involve a flight to Europe/Asia? Summersville is illegal, which is maddening because I life in WV. I've heard of stuff around Austin, Texas, but it looks more like a novelty than a destination. Pictured Rocks, Michigan looks like it MIGHT be amazing, but although I know there are ice routes and sport/trad nearby, nobody has ever mentioned DWS as far as I know(bad landings? Illegal?). There simply must be more areas in this country that are real DESTINATIONS for DWS. Any ideas?

For what it's worth, I've been to Summersville and rented a party boat for 3 of the past 4 summers and never once been caught/hassled for a day of DWS with 10-12 friends on a boat.

As I understand it, cliff "jumping" is prohibited, but climbing is not expressly mentioned... so just make sure you fall instead of jump.

As to Hetch Hetchy...It might be to cold at any time of the year. I nearly died swimming across the Merced River as it runs through Yosemite (which would rate as a stream anywhere but California). I think falling into that reservoir tired could be fatal.

But... there has got to be some amazing DWS in the continental USA that is going unclimbed so far. I am guessing there are a few areas that are just waiting to be if not discovered then realized as DWS spots.

Hetch Hetchy is explicitly off-limits to any sort of human contact with the water. They really need to just drain that and find somewhere else to dam up, we'd get a second yosemite valley out of it. Right now, with the opressive regulations surrounding Hetch Hetchy, its not the easiest place to climb.

Just got home from 4 days on Lake Powell expressly for DWS. Super fun. The rock is not the most solid you will ever touch but if you stay in the main channel (where the river originally flowed) it is often fair to good. Right now is the time to go as the water temps are nice and the monsoons haven't really gotten too bad. Some of the crags rise 250-300 feet out of the water with 40-150 feet of water at their base so you can climb as high as you are comfortable with (just don't be stupid). Lifetimes worth as far as I can tell (2000 miles of shoreline with plenty of that being crags).

I was expecting it to be much worst, as I had never heard anyone rant and rave about it before but, if you stay in the main channel (I especially enjoyed between Warm Creek Bay and Padre Bay) and a few other spots (like select walls in Navajo Canyon) it kicks ass. There were plenty of spots that sucked, so you might need a good bit of time to explore.

I just did some DWS stuff in Austin, TX like you mentioned. It's out at Pace Bend State Park. There's camping available there, and some decent climbing. We were in Upper S. Gracie Cove, and there were a few easy-ish problems around there. 20-25 feet or more. Rock is limestone, good quality. There are some other places down here at Pace Bend where you can do some sick DWS stuff, I just haven't explored it yet. Just watch out for large boulders around shoreline. There's a few big ones that are mostly out of the way, but if you stray too far off route, it could end up nasty.

Check out www.bloodyflapper.com and www.bloodyflapper.com/pacebend for some info. The second link has up-to-date links for water level, and has a few tags with climbing spots on it.

There's also a nice climbing spot just 5-10 mins away, Milton Reimer's Ranch - pockety limestone with lots of stuff. Texas isn't known for awesome sport climbing, but this stuff is pretty good. We usually will hit this up till noon-1-ish then head over to Pace Bend and DWS

I was pretty certain this was the case too, but the new guide for the new/meadow/summersville says dws is a no-no. Think that's just a liability thing or is it something you're going to get fined for if you get caught? I have heard of a lot of dws down there over the past few years, and have never heard of a sole getting pinched for it, but it all seems like one hell of a risk to me. Has anyone ever got an "official" word from the corps of engineers one way or the other?